Quakers

===Liberal===
{{See also|Friends General Conference|Britain Yearly Meeting|Beanite Quakerism|}}
Liberal Quakerism generally refers to Friends who take ideas from [[liberal Christianity]], often sharing a similar mix of ideas, such as more critical Biblical [[hermeneutics]], often with a focus on the [[social gospel]]. The ideas of ''that of God in everyone'' and the ''[[inner light]]'' were popularised by the American Friend [[Rufus Jones (writer)|Rufus Jones]] in the early 20th century, he and [[John Wilhelm Rowntree]] originating the movement. Liberal Friends predominated in Britain in the 20th century, among US meetings affiliated to [[Friends General Conference]], and some meetings in Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa.

These ideas remain important in Liberal Friends' understanding of God. They highlight the importance of good works, particularly living a life that upholds the virtues preached by Jesus. They often emphasise pacifism, treating others equally, living simply, and telling the truth.<ref name=QWRC-intro/>

Like Conservative Friends, Liberal Friends reject [[religious symbolism]] and sacraments such as water baptism and the Eucharist. While Liberal Friends recognise the potential of these outward forms for awakening experiences of the Inward [[Light of the World|Light]] of Christ, they are not part of their worship and are thought unnecessary to authentic Christian spirituality.

The Bible remains central to most Liberal Friends' worship. Almost all meetings make it available in the [[Friends Meeting House|meeting house]], often on a table in the centre of the room, which attendees may read privately or publicly during worship. But Liberal Friends decided that the Scriptures should give way to God's lead, if God leads them in a way contrary to the Bible. Many Friends are also influenced by liberal Christian theologians and modern [[Biblical criticism]]. They often adopt non-propositional Biblical hermeneutics, such as believing that the Bible is an anthology of human authors' beliefs and feelings about God, rather than Holy Writ, and that multiple interpretations of the Scriptures are acceptable.

Liberal Friends believe that a corporate confession of faith would be an obstacle – both to authentic listening and to new insight. As a non-creed form of Christianity, Liberal Quakerism is receptive to a wide range of understandings of religion. Most Liberal Quaker Yearly Meetings publish a [[Book of Discipline (Quaker)|Faith and Practice]] containing a range of religious experiences of what it means to be a Friend in that Yearly Meeting.